Like most of the country, the Southeast US has been hit hard by problems with the economy. Unemployment in the country is 8.2%. In the Southeast, Alabama is doing the better than the national average at 7.4% while both Georgia and South Carolina are above the median with 8.9% and 9.1% respectively.

Jobs Across the Southeast

That is definitely an area hit hard. We have a lot of people moving up this way from the Carolina's looking for work. I've interviewed many. Very sad!

Is Texas not considered the south? I read somewhere tons of people (especially from CA) were moving there. Maybe bcz cost of living there is lower than other states.

I think the unemployment there is 8%.

Not sure what the situation is here in AZ but I'm submitting a fitness class proposal and have been researching facilities to send it to and so many health clubs are closed or on the verge of closing or just struggling too much to even bother contacting.

One place near my house has a letter on their website main page explaining to members how they're trying to keep their doors open by changing their business model.

It's hard for everybody especially for small business owners too.

Monica, I am pretty sure people from Texas do not consider themselves from the South. I think Texas stands alone, in a way that California is not considered part of the Southwest, even though it's as far south and west as you can go.

Good point Jilly. I totally forgot about that. I lived there for 13 years but been in AZ for a while now. I want to move back there so badly so I often look into small biz demographics and quality of life etc.

What part of Texas do you want to move to?

Texas is the south, though not the southeast. The cost of living anywhere in the south is usually much lower than the northern states. Where I live we have many northern retirees who move down to make the most of their retirement income.